Charming Hannah (Big Sky #1)(50)

“Tree houses,” Max murmurs and then smiles down at Jenna. “Only you would come up with something like this.”

“It’s been in my head for years,” she replies with a shrug. “And it’s going to be so cool. If I can get the contractor to stay on budget. This is the second one I’ll have to fire in less than a month.”

“The budget is a million,” Max reminds her with a frown.

“I know. And he’s almost reached it already and we’re only half way there. I would take over and just do it myself, but these buildings are off the ground. I need an expert for this.”

Max and I share a look of concern, and then we go off in search of the contractor together. We find him, sitting on the circular staircase in the biggest of the three houses, sipping coffee and laughing with a colleague.

“Oh, hi there, Max and Brad.”

He doesn’t acknowledge Jenna at all, which has me balling my hands into fists.

“We need to talk,” Jenna says, but he won’t make eye contact with her. “Mr. Jefferson, we need to discuss the budget.”

“Oh, no need to worry,” he says, but Jenna sets her hands on her hips and glares at him.

“You’ve almost reached my top budget and you’re only half way finished with the project.”

“Well, that can happen sometimes, especially when the woman in charge likes expensive things,” he says and winks at me, but I just narrow my eyes at him and he loses his smug grin, clearing his throat. “Brad, I’m sure you know—”

“I don’t,” I interrupt. “This is Jenna’s project, and you clearly don’t respect that.”

“The budget is the budget,” Max adds. “And you don’t respect that either.”

“You’re fired,” Jenna says.

Jason Jefferson’s eyes bulge and he starts to sputter. “What do you mean?”

“Fired,” Jenna repeats. “Out. Canned. Done. I want you off my property in twenty minutes.”

“You can’t use my guys,” he says nastily. “If I go, they go.”

“Fine,” Jenna replies, not looking at him. “I’ll find someone else.”

“I’ll spread rumors,” he begins, but I walk forward and push my nose into his face.

“You’ll what?”

“I’ll spread rumors,” he repeats, not backing down. “I’ll tell everyone that she sleeps with the crew and her brothers try to intimidate us.”

“I’m not trying,” I say and lean in further, not touching him. “I’m doing. Despite it being a dick move, I understand that in a small town a man doesn’t want to take orders from a woman. But it’s the goddamn twenty-first century and this is Jenna’s work site. It’ll be run the way she sees fit, and she wants you gone.”

“Fine,” he snarls and nods to his employee. “Pack up. Let’s get out of here.”

“I’m an independent contractor,” the young man says and turns to Jenna. “He’s not my boss. I’d like to stay.”

“You’re welcome to stay, Bubba,” she says with a smile. “Anyone else who wants to stay, and work for me, is welcome to do so.”

Bubba nods and leaves the house, walking out to talk to the others.

“You need to leave,” she says to Jason, who’s seething. “And if you try to spread rumors about me or my brothers, I’ll start telling the truth about your work ethic and ruin your business. I don’t want to do that. I think this project was just too big for you, and that’s okay. But it’s time to call it quits.”

“You’re a bitch,” he snarls and stomps away, gathering his tools.

“I hope he doesn’t come back here to destroy what we’ve already done,” she murmurs.

“He won’t,” Max says, shaking his head. “He can’t chance jail time and ruining his business. He’s just butt hurt.”

“Who are you going to hire?” I ask her.

“I have a few calls out,” she replies. “I’ll get someone new right away. This project is too fun and too different. Someone will want it. I’m also going to showcase it in the Parade of Homes later this year, so they’ll get exposure there as well.”

“Man, Jason is a stupid son of a bitch,” I reply. “But I’m glad he’s gone. You don’t want someone here like that.”

“He wasn’t always,” she says and walks into the area where the kitchen will be. “He was excited in the beginning, but I meant it when I said that it got to be more than he could handle. I wish he had just been honest about it from the beginning. Male egos are fragile.”

“That they are,” Max says with a grin. “I can put up more money if you need it.”

“I will,” she says with a sigh. “Thanks to Jason. But I know that this place will pay for itself in the first three years, even with the added budget.”

“I agree,” Max replies with a nod. “Now that I see it in person, I know it’s going to be impressive.”

“Just wait,” she says with an excited grin.

“Mr. Hull?” Bubba comes back into the house with a smile. “I’ve discussed it with the other guys, and they’d also like to stay and be a part of the project.”